Self-constraining container

ABSTRACT

A self-constraining container for carrying unstable articles in a nontipable or unshiftable position comprising a base member, side members hingedly connected to the opposite sides of the base member, one of said side members being spring dominated to normally maintain said side member folded over the base member, and flexibly foldable end walls connected to the ends of said side members.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Marvin G. Marty, Sr.

6538 Potomac Ave., Porter, 1nd. 46368 [21] Appl. No. 874,499 [22] Filed Nov. 6,1969 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [54] SELF-CONSTRAINING CONTAINER 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

52 U.S. Cl 220/6, 217/ 15 [51] Int. Cl 865d 7/24 [50] Field of Search 220/6, 7; 217/15, 47, 1615;206/44 A, 57, DIG. 8; 229/35; 211/42,43, 184; 150/49, 50

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 773,392 10/1904 Holsapple 206/DIG. 8 2,128,693 8/1938 Dowd 217/66 2,474,763 6/1949 Thomas 21 1/42 X 2,488,262 11/1949 Bengelsdorf..... 229/35 X 2,535,256 12/1950 Benson et al. 220/7 X 3,294,229 12/ 1966 McConnell et a1. 206/57 3,557,855 1/1971 Weingarten et al 150/49 3,561,595 2/1971 Weggeland 229/22 X FOREIGN PATENTS 646,568 12/1927 France 21 1/43 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love Attorney-Walter Leuca ABSTRACT: A self-constraining container for carrying unstable articles in a nontipable or unshiftable position comprising a base member, side members hingedly connected to the opposite sides of the base member, one of said side members being spring dominated to normally maintain said side member folded over the base member, and flexibly foldable end walls connected to the ends of said side members.

PATENTED J N 4 9 2 SHEET 1 [1F 2 MARVIN G. MARTY SR,

ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN 4m SHEET 2 OF 2 /Y\ \/I;T\ we MARVIN G. MARTY 5R.

BYWM

ATTORNEY SELF-CONSTRAINING CONTAINER This invention relates to containers generally and more particularly to self-constraining containers.

The problem that this invention is directed to is the problem of shifting and tipping of articles due to the motion of the carrier. With reference to a particular application, grocery articles upon purchase by consumers are packaged in one or more bags of various sizes, generally having greater height than any other dimension and are adapted more for manual carrying rather than vehicular transportation such as in the trunk of an automobile, a station wagon platform or the back seat area of an automobile. The prevalent prior practice is to place bags or sacks of groceries in the trunk of an automobile or a station wagon in a corner thereof to prevent tipping and spillage of the contents of the bags. However, the nonnal speed of the vehicle at turns or the deacceleration or acceleration thereof invariably causes such unstable packages to tip and fall, and spill the contents of the packages on the trunk or station wagon floor.

Accordingly, a principal object of my invention is to provide a container for holding one or more unstably packaged bags of articles or other unstable articles to prevent the same from shifting position or tipping while in transit.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article container having sides which automatically adjust to close upon the articles therein.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an articleconstraining container which is collapsible to a compact unit when not in use and thereby occupy the minimum storage space.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent after a careful study of the following detailed description of my invention taken together with the accompanying drawings which illustrate and describe a preferred embodiment thereof. ln the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention shown in open position;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinally broken, cross-sectioned view of my invention showing a spring biased side thereof compacted against a package therein;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of my invention illustrated in use in the trunk of an automobile.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral designates in general the self-constraining container of my invention. It comprises a generally rectangular base member 12, side panels 14 and 16 hingedly connected to opposite sides of base member 12. The hinge-connecting means of side panels 14 and 16 may be made in any convenient manner such as hinge members 18 illustrated. However, any hinge method may be used, for example, a durable cloth tape may hingedly connect side panels 14 and 16 to base 12. I further provide coil spring members 20 connected to side panel 14 and base member 12 so that side panel 14 is under a bias to fold over base member 12 when spring member 20 is in its unwound state. Side panel 16 may similarly be spring biased, however, I prefer not to have side panel 16 spring connected, it being sufficient if only one side panel is under spring bias. The ends of side panels l4 and 16 coterminate and connected thereto are elastic strips 22 and 24 which serve as ends of container 10. The flexibility of elastic strips 22 and 24 readily allows change of position of side panel 14 under the urging of spring members 20 to press against the packages 26 in the container 10 and assume any position thereagainst to accommodate to the contents thereof. I have illustrated the specific structure of my invention as composite of different materials; however, this has no significance other than my preference to provide a covering for the connecting members and a smooth surface for engaging frangible objects which are forcibly restrained from moving or shifting and thereby subject to tear or abrasion.

In the operation of my invention the container 10 is stored in the trunk of an automobile or any convenient place in a station wagon in its compacted collapsed posture, that is, with the side panels 14 and 16 folded over each other and in parallel relation with base member 12. When put rnto use side panels 14 and 16 are manually moved to their upright position to permit placing therein one or more packages of groceries or whatever articles are desired to be transported in a stable and nonshifting position. Upon the release of spring bias side panel 14, said side panel will automatically close against the packages or articles contained therein and brace them against side panel 16 and base member 12. This unitization of the base area of the individual packages and articles with the stable base area of the base member 12, and integrating the weights thereof in the container to act as a single mass, effectively accomplishes the objective of this invention, that is preventing shifting or tipping over of the articles contained therein while in motion such as when carried by an automobile in transit.

Though I have described and illustrated one embodiment of my invention it is understood that modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of parts which can be considered within the spirit of this invention. It is my desire not to be limited to the specific structure shown and described but to the ambit permitted by the appended claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A container for stabilizing articles stored therein comprising:

a base member;

a side panel hingedly connected to opposite sides of said base member;

a spring member connecting one of said side panels and said base member urging said side panel toward said base member; and

flexibly foldable end walls connected to the ends of said side panels allowing pivotal movement of said side panels.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said flexibly foldable end walls are further characterized as being elastically stretchable.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said end walls are further characterized as comprising strips of fabric material.

* i i t M 3 Z. t a; w t e w m m 5 g S m n Au w n t WW 8 l .1 n m g. 9 1 e d c 1 l f b a 6 m m a m d m a m s a a K P M m r m m s r 7 mi Q a m d m H o w u E S d l 1 C e, w W a d m V S .r M R J b d a h a W m w a e S V. mwkk a... s 8 I. O O at e c r H 6 G WV 6 h e 8 3 .f S at I T lo F an a n 0 n 3 4 Y R .1 D 1 c e 6 E m v 4 B r mm s V n d o O o r b .1 n R C HU a e d l d e r e n P P 8 h I a r Ph t e 3 Wm S a f g 2, 1 E O r a M a n m n 3 Am W r o r o r I t .1 O P PM a e m N P b M t .t O H d mi m p e e G t .L e V 1; 0 m m d m A A w n i O .m e e t c s a 2 v mu m c a q r mm 3 m i e n a m d e /O t L O m n n u o C L V I t 8 l t O C .1 3 e 1G p t O v C .1 a O D; 10 mi \1 a C P E n S s S oo 6 L O O 1 e 00 3 .n. W N r t h g a 8 o t a 3 5 i 1 t t I .h 5 /O S A. s n n .t n /0 .3 m e e .1 n \),E D t m t v d. L S R s M a A e A a w 1 E, .t .t m S t D C m r\ A E A P .M 11 '2 li R O :i 

1. A container for stabilizing articles stored therein comprising: a base member; a side panel hingedly connected to opposite sides of said base member; a spring member connecting one of said side panels and said base member urging said side panel toward said base member; and flexibly foldable end walls connected to the ends of said side panels allowing pivotal movement of said side panels.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein said flexibly foldable end walls are further characterized as being elastically stretchable.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein said end walls are further characterized as comprising strips of fabric material. 